Mac Mini and Pro Display XDR?

[tillsbury]

So the display is completely lovely, but I just don't need the horsepower (nor the bill) of the Mac Pro. A Mac Mini maxed out would do me fine, but it lacks decent graphics.

Anyone care to guess whether the Mac Mini would drive a Pro Display XDR? Would it with the external Blackmagic GPU? I'm guessing that that configuration would preclude the use of Bootcamp, so it's Parallels only for occasional Windows stuff.

 

[InquiringMac]

Would it with the external Blackmagic GPU?

And what GPU would you recommend to use in a DIY eGPU, please?

 

[MacWorld78]

I'd love to know if the 6k Apple Pro Display XDR will work on a mac mini or eGPU - I cannot tell that's for sure.

I want to compare between 6k Apple Pro Display XDR and 4k Eizo CG3145 HDR.

Or I can wait until Eizo release 8k monitor hook up with eGPU.

 

[tillsbury]

It looks like it won’t, principally because the majority of cards (including the black magic fixed ones) don’t output thunderbolt 3, which is what’s required. There may be some cards that do, though, or at least there will be once the Mac Pro comes out.

 

[gusping]

It looks like it won’t, principally because the majority of cards (including the black magic fixed ones) don’t output thunderbolt 3, which is what’s required. There may be some cards that do, though, or at least there will be once the Mac Pro comes out.

What about AMD Vega II? That has USB-C, but I guess not TB3? Is TB3 needed?

 

[saulinpa]

Reports are that the BlackMagic can drive the LG UltraFine 5K which is TB3. Driving the new 6K (especially with the pro) should work. I wouldn't be surprised you need a firmware update, though.

 

[golfpan]

I thought I would care about this display with my mini until they released it. It's clear that Apple actually, finally went completely "Pro" with both the Mac Pro, and this display. This isn't "Prosumer" or enthusiast gear, this is equipment for people who well and truly make a living with these devices. This display is much, much more, spec-wise, than I can justify as an enthusiast. As soon as I saw the specs, and price tag (honestly, mostly the price tag), I knew it wasn't for me. And, I don't resent Apple for that. The Pros get a no-compromise desktop and display, which they deserve and which their businesses can pay for. That's good for keeping them on MacOS for the near-to-medium term, at least.

I wish there were a better 5k, HiDPI display for my mini (I really just want the iMac 5k display as a standalone monitor), but for now I think I'm just going to have to wait for a third party to come out with one. It's really too bad LG didn't do a better job with theirs.

 

[Elwe]

I wish there were a better 5k, HiDPI display for my mini (I really just want the iMac 5k display as a standalone monitor), but for now I think I'm just going to have to wait for a third party to come out with one. It's really too bad LG didn't do a better job with theirs.

Apple is calling the new display a Pro Display XDR. Maybe, in a year, they will have a new "Prosumer" level display. Maybe 6k with some but not all of the latest display tech. Then call it a Pro Display (and sell it for $1-2k), and also put it in the redesigned 2020 iMac or iMac Pro. Who knows . . .

 

[Hessel89]

100% capable. The 2018 Mini drives up to two 5K displays at 60hz without any problem and the XDR Pro is Thunderbolt 3 based so the connection won't be a problem either. You will not need an eGPU.

 

[saulinpa]

100% capable. The 2018 Mini drives up to two 5K displays at 60hz without any problem and the XDR Pro is Thunderbolt 3 based so the connection won't be a problem either. You will not need an eGPU.

How do you drive the 2nd 5K display? 2018 mini's specs say only one on TB3 and then a 4k on HDMI.

 

[LFO8]

How do you drive the 2nd 5K display? 2018 mini's specs say only one on TB3 and then a 4k on HDMI.

The 2018 Mac Mini has four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports.

 

[Hessel89]

I thought I would care about this display with my mini until they released it. It's clear that Apple actually, finally went completely "Pro" with both the Mac Pro, and this display. This isn't "Prosumer" or enthusiast gear, this is equipment for people who well and truly make a living with these devices. This display is much, much more, spec-wise, than I can justify as an enthusiast. As soon as I saw the specs, and price tag (honestly, mostly the price tag), I knew it wasn't for me. And, I don't resent Apple for that. The Pros get a no-compromise desktop and display, which they deserve and which their businesses can pay for. That's good for keeping them on MacOS for the near-to-medium term, at least.

I agree, it's not really worth the investment unless you truly need it.

I wish there were a better 5k, HiDPI display for my mini (I really just want the iMac 5k display as a standalone monitor), but for now I think I'm just going to have to wait for a third party to come out with one. It's really too bad LG didn't do a better job with theirs.

I've owned both the iMac 5K and now an LG Ultrafine 5K and I can tell you they are basically the same.
The iMac has a ''fully laminated glass cover'' while the LG isn't marketed as such, but when turned on you really can't spot the difference. They even have that same purple-ish tint when looking from certain angles, which tells me they have exactly the same polarizing layer... So if you want an iMac display, go for the LG Ultrafine.

 

[saulinpa]

The 2018 Mac Mini has four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports.

With that logic the mini can drive four 8k displays. Apple's spec says one 5K display on TB and one 4K on HDMI so I assume there are only 3 display port channels which can be routed between the TB3 ports and the HDMI port. The 5K uses two of the DP channels. Don't know how the 6K does it though.

 

[Hessel89]

With that logic the mini can drive four 8k displays. Apple's spec says one 5K display on TB and one 4K on HDMI so I assume there are only 3 display port channels which can be routed between the TB3 ports and the HDMI port. The 5K uses two of the DP channels. Don't know how the 6K does it though.

5K does not use all bandwidth. I can actually daisychain my LG 5K through my OWC 4M2 (nvme storage) using only one TB3 port on the mini. 6K won’t be any problem either.

 

[saulinpa]

5K does not use all bandwidth. I can actually daisychain my LG 5K through my OWC 4M2 (nvme storage) using only one TB3 port on the mini. 6K won’t be any problem either.

Yes, 5K does not use all of TB3's 40gbps bandwidth - especially upstream. Not enough bandwidth for two 5K monitors but good for a single 6K. Any issues with 6K on a mini won't be TB3 but with the internal chipset. Intel specs for the mini only mention 4K (on three DP buses). Apple does a trick to combine two DP streams to drive the 5K. Don't know if the same trick will work with 6K on a mini.

 

[frou]

If the Intel integrated graphics is getting a workout the whole time just by drawing the OS/applications at 6K, I wouldn't be surprised if the resultant thermals caused CPU performance to be hampered a bit.

If you've got the coin to be buying the XDR monitor, I'd probably tack on some form of RX580 based eGPU. That's the same GPU that's in the new Mac Pro by default

 

[InquiringMac]

Is MM 2018 capable of driving a single Dell UP3218K UltraSharp 8K Monitor (or a similar Philips 328P8K) at native resolution, please?

 

[Hessel89]

Is MM 2018 capable of driving a single Dell UP3218K UltraSharp 8K Monitor (or a similar Philips 328P8K) at native resolution, please?

probably not. You'd need two TB3 streams or two HDMI 2.0 which is possible but I don't think MacOS can put the two together..

Yes, 5K does not use all of TB3's 40gbps bandwidth - especially upstream. Not enough bandwidth for two 5K monitors but good for a single 6K. Any issues with 6K on a mini won't be TB3 but with the internal chipset. Intel specs for the mini only mention 4K (on three DP buses). Apple does a trick to combine two DP streams to drive the 5K. Don't know if the same trick will work with 6K on a mini.

I think it will use the same dual DP stream trick. Wether or not the internal chipset can handle it is the second question. I do know that the Mac mini can scale the UI to look like 3200 x 1800 HiDPI which is essentially 6K rendered internally. (I just tried) The mouse is still rendered at 60hz, but the launchpad is struggling hard... lol so an eGPU would definitely be recommended.

 

[InquiringMac]

Thank you very kindly, @Hessel89 !

You'd need two TB3 streams or two HDMI 2.0 which is possible but I don't think MacOS can put the two together..

Any info if Catalina will be capable "to put the two together"?

Regarding the HDR10 support I understand (https://www.apple.com/macos/catalina-preview/features/):
"Footnote 2. 4K, 4K HDR, 4K Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10 content is available on all Mac models introduced in 2018 or later with 4K-resolution screens."

What was your experience playing 10-bit HDR h.265 HEVC high quality 4K content, please? Any issues like very high CPU usage, the fans running at full speed while decoding 4K in software (I do not think MM 2018 iGPU is a capable hardware decoder)?